In recent court proceedings in Jackson County, Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the sentencing of two individuals, Darran Berry of Biloxi and Dakota Cruse of Vancleave, following investigations led by her office. These cases underscore the Attorney General’s commitment to prosecuting individuals who exploit others in Mississippi.
Darran Berry, 31, received a sentence from Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor on May 7. Berry faced three charges, with sentences to be served concurrently. These included 10 years for promoting prostitution (of which 5 years are to be served, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision), 5 years for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) while in possession of a firearm, and 6 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm (with 5 years to be served and 1 year of post-release supervision). Additionally, Berry was ordered to pay $500 to the Crime Victim Compensation Fund and $1,000 to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender. His arrest was part of a human trafficking operation coordinated by the Attorney General’s Office in cooperation with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
In a separate case, Dakota Cruse, 26, was sentenced on April 28 by Judge Taylor to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for one count of child exploitation. Cruse will serve 7 years without the possibility of parole, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Crime Victim Compensation Fund and $1,000 to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund, and he must register as a sex offender upon release. Cruse’s arrest resulted from the Attorney General’s Operation Press Your Luck.
Attorney General Fitch emphasized the importance of public vigilance and urged anyone suspecting exploitation to contact her office, noting that such tips can be pivotal in achieving justice for victims.
